Ray! Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) One accessory that every 4WD should carry is a snatch strap, but what isn't often considered is an appropriate attachment method for the snatch strap. The attachment needs to be strong, so that it can withstand the forces of snatching, it should be easy to attach and remove the strap after use and it should create minimum interference if attached to the vehicle. That's what I had in mind when I made up this snatch strap attachment: It's basically a 4mm thick tube the same size as a regular tow hitch, with a 20mm diameter solid steel rod slotted through and welded into place: Rather than having the usual long attachment like many with the hook: This one doesn't protrude much at all and rarely hits anything on the tracks: Here's another view of the hitch: And one with the snatch strap attached (the hitch got a bit of a beating after our last cruise): It's withstood a lot of use over the years (something like 20+), so I can vouch for it's strength and usefulness. Cheers Ray Edited May 10, 2012 by Ray! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big gu Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Great idea but using your tow point as a snatch point can bend your tow bar have seen it quite a few times Consider that people break 8 tonne snatch straps and your tow bar ain't rated to that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Great idea but using your tow point as a snatch point can bend your tow bar have seen it quite a few times Consider that people break 8 tonne snatch straps and your tow bar ain't rated to that I'm not so sure about that. The Nissan tow bar has a three point mounting, both chassis rails and in the middle of the crossbeam that goes between the chassis rails. The crossbeam is further braced by additional cross members to the chassis (creating triangular sections), so the entire rear end is very strong. If this wasn't strong enough, I don't know where on the Patrol you'd attach a snatch strap. Cheers Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil! Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 How do you use it Ray? do you just slip the strap hoop over both bars or what. can you upload a picture with the strap attached cause i like this idea alot will make it easier then pulling the pin out and slipping the strap up the bars guts then putting the pin back in. I did awhile ago make a snatch point by using an old tow toung and a rated bow shackle i slotted the box section and slipped the shackle into it then welded it all up and folded the tabs i slotted over the shackle and welded it up some more but iv been to scared to use it lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 How do you use it Ray? do you just slip the strap hoop over both bars or what. can you upload a picture with the strap attached cause i like this idea alot will make it easier then pulling the pin out and slipping the strap up the bars guts then putting the pin back in. I did awhile ago make a snatch point by using an old tow toung and a rated bow shackle i slotted the box section and slipped the shackle into it then welded it all up and folded the tabs i slotted over the shackle and welded it up some more but iv been to scared to use it lol. Yes, you loop it over. I've added some extra photos. Cheers Ray Evil! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twisty Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Nice Ray. Makes for quick de/attachment A commercial version is available in billet form. But then knowledge and skill regarding threads is required for correct use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big gu Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I'm not so sure about that. The Nissan tow bar has a three point mounting, both chassis rails and in the middle of the crossbeam that goes between the chassis rails. The crossbeam is further braced by additional cross members to the chassis (creating triangular sections), so the entire rear end is very strong. If this wasn't strong enough, I don't know where on the Patrol you'd attach a snatch strap. Cheers Ray On mine I have two hooks on the chassis same as front when I picked my fridge from arb they had 6 towbars in the metal bin including other parts and aske the question and was told this then shown they all seem to deform in the centre bending out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) On mine I have two hooks on the chassis same as front when I picked my fridge from arb they had 6 towbars in the metal bin including other parts and aske the question and was told this then shown they all seem to deform in the centre bending out Were those towbars from Patrols and were they Nissan ones? As I pointed out, my towbar is also attached to the centre of the chassis cross member that runs at the end of the chassis. For the towbar to bend, it would also bend/rip the chassis. Also, one has no real idea as to how those towbars were used, regardless of the brand. It's also then ironic that ARB sell snatch strap attachments for towbars. One could potentially claim recompense if they sell a product that will clearly damage another product. Cheers Ray Edited May 10, 2012 by Ray! twisty and Oldmate 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil! Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Thanks Ray, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cairnsGU Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Ray..didn't realize you were on here..lol .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cairnsGU Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) Oops Edited May 10, 2012 by cairnsGU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Ray..didn't realize you were on here..lol .. A change is as good as a holiday. Cheers Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikegq Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 great idea ray, very simple and easy to use, i have never seen that. good to see u on this forum to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TI_CRD_125 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Thanks Ray. The best ideas are often also the simplest! Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyhey Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) Nice Ray, Another add-on you could do is weld some wings onto the bar going through the box section to retain the strap (kind of like that little plate bit at the end of the front transport hook) when crossing rivers or driving with it mounted for quick use. Edited May 10, 2012 by heyhey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnaby Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 (edited) hay yer it worked fine until it broke and killed somone as big GU said use tow hooks and a strap to equilize the stress read the manual dont ever snatch from 1 point Alan Edited May 18, 2012 by carnaby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 hay yer it worked fine until it broke and killed somone as big GU said use tow hooks and a chain to equilize the stress read the manual dont ever snatch from 1 point Alan I think Darcy was talking about a method of holding the strap in place when not in actual use. I would absolutely never, ever, use a chain in any shape or form for snatching. Chains are designed for lifting and constraining loads, they are not designed to be used where sudden and high forces are applied. I used to do rigging in the oil and gas industry, I have a vague idea of what I'm talking about. Cheers Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnaby Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 ARHHH but you will use a single attachment point on a towbar rated at 3500 kg and remember theese dont meet aus standards for lifting and rigging so the 5-1 factor does not apply chains are part of most recovery kits and are used as an equalizing to hook your snatch strap to the origonal front tow point looks pretty strong too but we pull them off and fit 2 why is that ? Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 ARHHH but you will use a single attachment point on a towbar rated at 3500 kg and remember theese dont meet aus standards for lifting and rigging so the 5-1 factor does not apply chains are part of most recovery kits and are used as an equalizing to hook your snatch strap to the origonal front tow point looks pretty strong too but we pull them off and fit 2 why is that ? Alan You are confusing SWLs/WLLs with breaking strains. Cheers Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronus4x4 Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 Looks good Ray. If I didn't have a pintle I'd do that for sure. I have these two big pins on either side of my pintle, they look pretty hard core. Do you think they could be used (with rated shackles and a bridle) as a recovery point? Agree about chains, I'd maybe use a chain to equalise while winching, but not while snatching. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 I wouldn't use the two points on either side of the pintle for recovery, they look like safety chain points. BTW, I once bent a pintle hook in the bush, they're a lot less stronger than I thought, but I didn't bend the towbar. Cheers Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 (edited) OK, let's settle this debate about whether a tow bar is suitable for snatching or not. Firstly, some words and images directly from the Nissan service manual (bold is my emphasis): Tow Truck Towing TOWING HOOKS The towing hooks are provided only for emergency.Use the towing hooks only, not other parts of the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle body will be damaged.Use the towing hooks only to free a vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc. Never tow the vehicle for long distances using only the towing hooks.The towing hook is under tremendous force when used to free a stuck vehicle. Always pull the cable straight out from the front or rear of the vehicle. Never pull on the hook at a sideways angle. I would never snatch using the loop at the back, as it is not adequately welded to the plate, nor is the plate of any substantial material and the bolts aren't high tensile from what I've noted. This is an image of the chassis of the wagon: I've highlighted using a red rectangle the rearmost stucture of the chassis and you will note that is is substantially braced by a cross member, as well as additional triangular sections fully across the rear to create a very strong three-bar linkage structure. I have also added an overlaying diagram of the Nissan tow bar, showing in black the attachment points to the chassis. You cannot tell me that two tow hooks attached only to the sides of the chassis will be stronger than the central tow point on the tow bar. Cheers Ray Edited May 13, 2012 by Ray! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronus4x4 Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 (edited) Cheers Ray. Being that I never tow anything I might remove the pintle and I'll see if the local Fab shop (wasp4x4) can make something substantial up to go there...would love to use your idea but I can see half my leg (or dog) hanging off it as it would be there permanently. *edit removed use of the hoop after reading next post Cheers, Edited May 12, 2012 by dronus4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronus4x4 Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 crazily enough the hoop fitted on the pintle mount.. replaced bolts with high tensile Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray! Posted May 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Don't ever use that for snatching, the weld and material is simply not durable enough for the task. Cheers Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now